I Found Two Mice in the Woodpile

I found two mice today on the top of the woodpile. They were tucked under the tarp thrown over the fourth cord I was working on hauling into the garage for easier access.

Anyone who lives in a cooler climate, as I do, knows that mice set up household where it is warm and safe. In the woodpile, I often find cozy little nests made from milkweed down, twigs and leaves. They are sweet reminders of the presence of these tiny mammals. I respect their place in the web of life, and find them to be amazingly self-sufficient and even cute – as long as they stay outside and do not set up house beneath the sofa or behind the bookshelf in my office.

One mouse gathered birdseed that had dropped to the ground from the feeder outside and had painstakingly hid hundreds of sunflower seeds under the sofa without my knowledge. It was my dog, Buck, who alerted me to the mouse’s presence. Accordingly I set out the humane trap we purchased recently and then the next day, my catch in tow, drove the little bugger six miles away to let him/her go in a new land. (My natural scientist son informs me that the mouse, outside of its protective environment, was probably snatched up and eaten by a hawk within minutes.) I have mixed feelings about his overview, having empathy for the little mouse but also having respect for the intricacies of the web of life that I can hardly profess to understand.

Back to the mice in the woodpile…I found them right after a phone conversation I had with a friend where we were discussing the on-going, serious challenges in the relationship between her and her husband. I had whipped back the tarp and spotted the two mice on top of the woodpile, huddled together, the larger mouse embracing the smaller one. They were, needless to say, still and dead having obviously succumbed to the bitter cold of the previous days.

I was touched by the tenderness of the scene and because the ground was frozen, I carried them as an eternally entwined pair to a spot under a nearby bush, laid them down gently, and released them to Nature to dispose of them.

As I walked back to the woodpile to continue my work, I was struck by the parallel between this precious symbol of deep caring and dedication – and the conversation I’d had with my client. A question begged to be asked:

Are you willing to die in the arms of your present life partner?

If you are, make a warm, safe nest together. Celebrate your relationship! Love joyfully! Love deeply.

If you aren’t, then best to get out of the woodpile today.

It’s simple, Love or Love not. There is no in between. To Love a little or only on Saturdays means you’ve got six days when you will be too cold to thrive.

Thank you, my Earthly companions, for reminding me how important Love is to all of life. Hug your spouse. Hug your children. Hug your dog. Hug your cat. Hey, even, hug a mouse! (metaphorically, of course) But do Love fully and openly.